What's the heart of Christianity?

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xaris

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I am finding teaching by Andrew Farley, Paul Ellis and Graham Cooke quite helpful

The hyper grace ones seem to be most helpful and reassuring to my mental health
You might also try looking up Martyn Lloyd Jones and/or Adrian Rogers.
 
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hedrick

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I agree with the OP that it's a mistake to think that the heart of Christianity is moralism or even holiness. But the OP seems to assume that this is the implication of living the way Jesus said to live. If the way Jesus told us to live is wrong, we've got a big problem.

I would say that Jesus was pretty clear that the way we're to live is to love God and our neighbor. While supporting the Law in principle, in his life he was always willing to bend rules when needed. And in Mat 5 and other places he understood the Law as embodying deeper principles that were more important than the actual rules.

Furthermore, this isn't just a more sophisticated version of moralism, because Jesus grounded love of neighbor in love of God and a life of prayer. He also put it in the context of his call from God to establish God's rule, and in various ways showed that it was carried out in a redeemed community, of which we were to be representatives.
 
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Uriah123

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Growing up within the Christian community as I did, I encountered many answers to the question, "What is the heart of Christianity?". Most commonly, I was told that the Christian life was about loving Jesus by living the way he said to live. And that way was a holy way, a moral way, a way of righteousness. As a younger man, I didn't understand that what I was hearing in this particular answer was only a half-truth and as such was not actually the truth. In fact, this view of the Christian life is what is known as Moralism and is actually quite devastating to true Christian living.

The main idea in Moralism is that the apex of the Christian life is holiness. What all Christians ought to shoot for is a life that is highly moral, free of sin and its fouling stain. Typically, on Moralism, this holy life is attained by "bearing down," by "committing to," by "discipline and determination," by "self-sacrifice and persistence." So, when I was told that, as a Christian, I ought to live a holy life, I was usually also told that doing so was accomplished by tremendous and costly self-effort.

But, it was simply my duty, my obligation, to "dig deep" and "live for Jesus." He had died for me, after all, and so, in return, I was obliged to sacrifice myself in pursuit of Christian living. And if I didn't, well, the yawning maw of hell waited to engulf me, as it would any who turned back from the great and holy work of living for Jesus.

In this thinking, three very spiritually-dangerous things - Moralism, self-effort, and fear - are bound up together, creating a "perfect storm" of faulty thinking that could only lead to frustration, compromise and hypocrisy in my walk with God. And they did.

Is righteousness the primary goal of the Christian life? No. It is merely the avenue, the means to, enjoying loving, rich fellowship with God.

Hebrews 12:14
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:


In this verse, what is the purpose of living a holy, peaceful life? Is holiness an end in itself? NO! It is just the means by which the Christian believer may "see God." Is this verse speaking only of the heavenly hereafter? Or does Scripture tells us we may experience God - "see" Him - on this side of the grave, too?

The New Testament is bursting with verses that indicate that God is not just some happy future prospect we must wait 'til death to enjoy, but One with whom we may fellowship right now! The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, teaches us divine truth, and glorifies God within us (John 16:8-14); the Spirit strengthens us (Philippians 2:13; Romans 8:13; Ephesians 3:16); the Spirit produces in us spiritual "fruit" (Galatians 5:22-23); the Spirit transforms us into the likeness of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). And so on.

As the Holy Spirit works in us, we come to know God more, to understand Him better, and to enjoy deeper and deeper communion with Him. In this communion, this fellowship, with God there is incredible fulfillment, meaning, joy, love, peace and rest (John 14:27; Matthew 11:28-30; 1 John 4:16-19). It is this wonderful fellowship with God that is the end goal of our holy, Christ-centered living and is, actually, supposed to be the prime motivation for it.

1 Corinthians 1:9
9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.


2 Corinthians 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.


1 John 1:3
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.


I lived for many years trying to be a holy man without ever truly knowing God and enjoying Him. Oh, I knew about God, I knew the facts of the Bible concerning God, but I didn't think I could actually experience God directly and personally on a regular basis. And so, I couldn't know Him for myself, like I would any in my social circle I called friend or family.

It was...very hard to stay motivated to live for such a distant figure I knew nothing of personally - and certainly didn't enjoy. But, I went through the motions, failing and compromising regularly, shouldering the burden of Christian living as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, though my heart yearned for - and often strayed into - other worldly, fleshly and unholy things.

I had adopted a very Moralistic approach to being a Christian, though, at the time, I'd never heard the term "Moralism." Live right. That was my goal as a Christian, which meant not doing things that were immoral. So, I went to church three or four times a week; I prayed over meals, before bed, and at Prayer Meeting on Wednesday evenings; I didn't go to the movie theater, or drink alcohol, or smoke, or listen to secular music; I didn't swear, or party or hang around with non-Christian people. I was - outwardly anyway - a good Christian guy. My moralistic thinking, though, had made me a Pharisee:

Matthew 15:7-8
7 "You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
8 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.


This is where Moralism always ends up. And this is because it is working for the wrong thing entirely, and usually from the wrong power source and motive. The purpose of holy living isn't simply to be holy but to create a life in which a holy God may be known, experienced and enjoyed.

John 10:10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.


Living among so many other moralistic believers, it took decades for me to figure this out.

(Continued in following post.)

How do you feel about non-religious sub-blue laws?
 
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aiki

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agree with the OP that it's a mistake to think that the heart of Christianity is moralism or even holiness. But the OP seems to assume that this is the implication of living the way Jesus said to live. If the way Jesus told us to live is wrong, we've got a big problem.

No, my aim in posting what I have in this thread (there are actually 3 main "OP" posts) was to consider the purpose and means of holy living, not to encourage people to deny or reject such living.

would say that Jesus was pretty clear that the way we're to live is to love God and our neighbor.

And in this order.

While supporting the Law in principle, in his life he was always willing to bend rules when needed. And in Mat 5 and other places he understood the Law as embodying deeper principles that were more important than the actual rules.

OT ceremonial rules and rules of separation were "bent" by Christ, yes. But he never contravened the universal moral laws of God, which I think worth noting.
 
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Religiot

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Growing up within the Christian community as I did, I encountered many answers to the question, "What is the heart of Christianity?". Most commonly, I was told that the Christian life was about loving Jesus by living the way he said to live. And that way was a holy way, a moral way, a way of righteousness. As a younger man, I didn't understand that what I was hearing in this particular answer was only a half-truth and as such was not actually the truth. In fact, this view of the Christian life is what is known as Moralism and is actually quite devastating to true Christian living.

The main idea in Moralism is that the apex of the Christian life is holiness. What all Christians ought to shoot for is a life that is highly moral, free of sin and its fouling stain. Typically, on Moralism, this holy life is attained by "bearing down," by "committing to," by "discipline and determination," by "self-sacrifice and persistence." So, when I was told that, as a Christian, I ought to live a holy life, I was usually also told that doing so was accomplished by tremendous and costly self-effort.

But, it was simply my duty, my obligation, to "dig deep" and "live for Jesus." He had died for me, after all, and so, in return, I was obliged to sacrifice myself in pursuit of Christian living. And if I didn't, well, the yawning maw of hell waited to engulf me, as it would any who turned back from the great and holy work of living for Jesus.

In this thinking, three very spiritually-dangerous things - Moralism, self-effort, and fear - are bound up together, creating a "perfect storm" of faulty thinking that could only lead to frustration, compromise and hypocrisy in my walk with God. And they did.

Is righteousness the primary goal of the Christian life? No. It is merely the avenue, the means to, enjoying loving, rich fellowship with God.

Hebrews 12:14
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:


In this verse, what is the purpose of living a holy, peaceful life? Is holiness an end in itself? NO! It is just the means by which the Christian believer may "see God." Is this verse speaking only of the heavenly hereafter? Or does Scripture tells us we may experience God - "see" Him - on this side of the grave, too?

The New Testament is bursting with verses that indicate that God is not just some happy future prospect we must wait 'til death to enjoy, but One with whom we may fellowship right now! The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, teaches us divine truth, and glorifies God within us (John 16:8-14); the Spirit strengthens us (Philippians 2:13; Romans 8:13; Ephesians 3:16); the Spirit produces in us spiritual "fruit" (Galatians 5:22-23); the Spirit transforms us into the likeness of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). And so on.

As the Holy Spirit works in us, we come to know God more, to understand Him better, and to enjoy deeper and deeper communion with Him. In this communion, this fellowship, with God there is incredible fulfillment, meaning, joy, love, peace and rest (John 14:27; Matthew 11:28-30; 1 John 4:16-19). It is this wonderful fellowship with God that is the end goal of our holy, Christ-centered living and is, actually, supposed to be the prime motivation for it.

1 Corinthians 1:9
9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.


2 Corinthians 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.


1 John 1:3
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.


I lived for many years trying to be a holy man without ever truly knowing God and enjoying Him. Oh, I knew about God, I knew the facts of the Bible concerning God, but I didn't think I could actually experience God directly and personally on a regular basis. And so, I couldn't know Him for myself, like I would any in my social circle I called friend or family.

It was...very hard to stay motivated to live for such a distant figure I knew nothing of personally - and certainly didn't enjoy. But, I went through the motions, failing and compromising regularly, shouldering the burden of Christian living as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, though my heart yearned for - and often strayed into - other worldly, fleshly and unholy things.

I had adopted a very Moralistic approach to being a Christian, though, at the time, I'd never heard the term "Moralism." Live right. That was my goal as a Christian, which meant not doing things that were immoral. So, I went to church three or four times a week; I prayed over meals, before bed, and at Prayer Meeting on Wednesday evenings; I didn't go to the movie theater, or drink alcohol, or smoke, or listen to secular music; I didn't swear, or party or hang around with non-Christian people. I was - outwardly anyway - a good Christian guy. My moralistic thinking, though, had made me a Pharisee:

Matthew 15:7-8
7 "You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
8 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.


This is where Moralism always ends up. And this is because it is working for the wrong thing entirely, and usually from the wrong power source and motive. The purpose of holy living isn't simply to be holy but to create a life in which a holy God may be known, experienced and enjoyed.

John 10:10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.


Living among so many other moralistic believers, it took decades for me to figure this out.

(Continued in following post.)
Obedience to the Lord, period.
 
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Neogaia777

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@aiki

It sounds to me that your struggling with your own will, vs God's will to me, but we all struggle with this, trying to do things (everything) in our own will instead of God's will completely having the helm in our life and completely taking over, etc...

This requires full submission of our own will over to God's will, in us and through us, etc, instead of our own will trying to do it all, which is always most certain to frustrate and fail anyways, etc, our own will, etc...

But we have to learn to know and discern His (God's) will (from withing) and have it do it (whatever the "it" is at the moment) (choose, etc) and let it (God's will) completely take over, etc...

We need to "ask", and learn to ask, (at least in our heads silently) at almost every given moment, and "listen" in those very moments to what the Spirit within us would have do or choose, etc, before our choosing or taking action also, etc...

This is difficult at first, and I think it's something we all struggle with still, but I think this might be what you might be struggling with maybe, etc...

Asking and then listening also helps us to eventually hear and discern/hear His voice much more clearly at every step and with "practice", etc, which is crucial to any kind of real true intimate personal relationship with Him, etc...

Stopping ourselves and our own will (and our own thoughts) before choosing, acting (and sometimes even thinking) and/or taking action, etc, and then listening and hearing, takes "practice", etc, but will in time, becomes easier and clearer, with "practice" doing these things, etc...

All starts with stopping yourself and asking first, then hearing comes along also, etc, and before you know it, you have a real relationship going on with Him, etc, and your no longer just relying on just your own will only either anymore, etc...

Anyway,

God Bless!
 
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Rodan6

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Jesus said that the Christian life is unavoidably a crucified life:

Matthew 16:24-25
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
25 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

John 12:24-25
24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
25 "He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.


Paul the apostle also wrote:

Galatians 2:20
20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.


A life of moment-by-moment submission to God, necessary to walking well with Him, is a life that inevitably leads to death to Self. God cannot rule from the throne of my heart while Self sits there. And so, Self has not merely to step down from the throne, but to die.

What is strong enough motivation to move me willingly - even joyfully - into the crucified life of Self-denial? Not fear. Though, many Christians often resort to this motive in living for God. I certainly used to live from this motive as a Christian. But, it isn't strong enough to produce consistent and joyful obedience to God. Instead, fearing God made me resent Him and mistrust Him. And it didn't produce for me a consistently holy life, either.

Because this is so, Scripture never encourages me to a motivation of fear in my walk with God. Now, by "fear" I mean a cowering terror of a dangerous, threatening power, not the reverential awe the Bible urges in me toward God. This cowering sort of fear is too weak to move me along properly as a child of God. No, God intends instead that LOVE should motivate my life with Him.

Matthew 22:36-38
36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
37 And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
38 "This is the great and foremost commandment.

The apostle Paul wrote that no matter what I say, or know, or do, if I love isn't my underlying motive for it all, it's all useless!

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.


The apostle John indicates that love and fear are mutually exclusive and that one who fears God has not been made mature in His love.

1 John 4:16-19
16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
19 We love, because He first loved us.


It seems so...odd to me now how often I hear Christians urging fear as a motive for walking with God. But this motive goes hand-in-hand with Moralism and self-effort, Satan's "trifecta" counterfeit of the normal Christian life. Been there - was there for years. Done that. Doesn't work. But love does. And how!

Love - God's love given to me by the Spirit (Romans 5:5) - has enabled me to walk with God into the crucified life, a life of self-denial, with joy, to live in contented, restful submission to Him, and in this place of submission to find my life transformed by Him, just as He promised!

May these things I've written help some of you to do the same!
 
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Neogaia777

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As the answer to your question: obedience to the Lord, period, is the heart of Christianity.

Amen.
How are you successfully obeying Him...?

What are your methods or advice to others in how to do so successfully, etc...?

Or does any of that even matter, but just only obeying Him only, no matter what the methods, or how it is being done, is the only thing of number one paramount importance, etc...?

And whether it is out of fear or love doesn't matter, but only whatever which way is the most successful for each individual each individually, etc...?

What do you think, etc...?

What would be your advice to others, etc...?

God Bless!
 
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Jaxxi

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Growing up within the Christian community as I did, I encountered many answers to the question, "What is the heart of Christianity?". Most commonly, I was told that the Christian life was about loving Jesus by living the way he said to live. And that way was a holy way, a moral way, a way of righteousness. As a younger man, I didn't understand that what I was hearing in this particular answer was only a half-truth and as such was not actually the truth. In fact, this view of the Christian life is what is known as Moralism and is actually quite devastating to true Christian living.

The main idea in Moralism is that the apex of the Christian life is holiness. What all Christians ought to shoot for is a life that is highly moral, free of sin and its fouling stain. Typically, on Moralism, this holy life is attained by "bearing down," by "committing to," by "discipline and determination," by "self-sacrifice and persistence." So, when I was told that, as a Christian, I ought to live a holy life, I was usually also told that doing so was accomplished by tremendous and costly self-effort.

But, it was simply my duty, my obligation, to "dig deep" and "live for Jesus." He had died for me, after all, and so, in return, I was obliged to sacrifice myself in pursuit of Christian living. And if I didn't, well, the yawning maw of hell waited to engulf me, as it would any who turned back from the great and holy work of living for Jesus.

In this thinking, three very spiritually-dangerous things - Moralism, self-effort, and fear - are bound up together, creating a "perfect storm" of faulty thinking that could only lead to frustration, compromise and hypocrisy in my walk with God. And they did.

Is righteousness the primary goal of the Christian life? No. It is merely the avenue, the means to, enjoying loving, rich fellowship with God.

Hebrews 12:14
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:


In this verse, what is the purpose of living a holy, peaceful life? Is holiness an end in itself? NO! It is just the means by which the Christian believer may "see God." Is this verse speaking only of the heavenly hereafter? Or does Scripture tells us we may experience God - "see" Him - on this side of the grave, too?

The New Testament is bursting with verses that indicate that God is not just some happy future prospect we must wait 'til death to enjoy, but One with whom we may fellowship right now! The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, teaches us divine truth, and glorifies God within us (John 16:8-14); the Spirit strengthens us (Philippians 2:13; Romans 8:13; Ephesians 3:16); the Spirit produces in us spiritual "fruit" (Galatians 5:22-23); the Spirit transforms us into the likeness of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). And so on.

As the Holy Spirit works in us, we come to know God more, to understand Him better, and to enjoy deeper and deeper communion with Him. In this communion, this fellowship, with God there is incredible fulfillment, meaning, joy, love, peace and rest (John 14:27; Matthew 11:28-30; 1 John 4:16-19). It is this wonderful fellowship with God that is the end goal of our holy, Christ-centered living and is, actually, supposed to be the prime motivation for it.

1 Corinthians 1:9
9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.


2 Corinthians 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.


1 John 1:3
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.


I lived for many years trying to be a holy man without ever truly knowing God and enjoying Him. Oh, I knew about God, I knew the facts of the Bible concerning God, but I didn't think I could actually experience God directly and personally on a regular basis. And so, I couldn't know Him for myself, like I would any in my social circle I called friend or family.

It was...very hard to stay motivated to live for such a distant figure I knew nothing of personally - and certainly didn't enjoy. But, I went through the motions, failing and compromising regularly, shouldering the burden of Christian living as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, though my heart yearned for - and often strayed into - other worldly, fleshly and unholy things.

I had adopted a very Moralistic approach to being a Christian, though, at the time, I'd never heard the term "Moralism." Live right. That was my goal as a Christian, which meant not doing things that were immoral. So, I went to church three or four times a week; I prayed over meals, before bed, and at Prayer Meeting on Wednesday evenings; I didn't go to the movie theater, or drink alcohol, or smoke, or listen to secular music; I didn't swear, or party or hang around with non-Christian people. I was - outwardly anyway - a good Christian guy. My moralistic thinking, though, had made me a Pharisee:

Matthew 15:7-8
7 "You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
8 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.


This is where Moralism always ends up. And this is because it is working for the wrong thing entirely, and usually from the wrong power source and motive. The purpose of holy living isn't simply to be holy but to create a life in which a holy God may be known, experienced and enjoyed.

John 10:10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.


Living among so many other moralistic believers, it took decades for me to figure this out.

(Continued in following post.)
To me the heart of Christianity is baptism and repentance. Without these we will go to hell.
 
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Junia

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Yes, this is actually what I say in my post - that I hadn't understood what walking with God was about.

I don't have a problem with watching a movie or listening to secular music. I don't think God does, either. But if these things ever distract me from God, move me toward the World and sin rather than toward my holy Maker, grip my heart above and before God, then they gotta' go. And many movies and secular music have no place whatever in the life of a disciple of Jesus.

Sometimes, Christians want to have a foot in the World and a foot in the Christian life. This is a bad idea:

James 4:4
4 ...do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.


What I do is if I find myself getting too distracted by these things is to just ration my time using them

And spend more time with God instead

the only sure for idolatry is focusing more on Jesus

're music: is classical music ok?I

I find it uplifting and positive to listen to classical composers

I don't see anything harmful in it at all
 
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If love casts out fear, as the Bible says, then being afraid of God has no place in a relationship with Him. The First and Great Commandment is to love God with all we are, not fear Him. (Matthew 22:36-38)

And hasn't God gone to incredible lengths to show us how much He loves us? He didn't have to take on human flesh and die at the hands of evil men for you and me. We deserved His judgment and wrath, sinners that we are, but He offers us grace and mercy and, best of all, Himself instead!

The abundant life God invites us into is only possible when we really sink into the truth of His love for us and are fully convinced of it.

Read 1 John 4:16-19.
Perfect love for others. What more needs to be said?
 
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Neogaia777

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To me the heart of Christianity is baptism and repentance. Without these we will go to hell.
I would say Baptism by Fire, that leads to True Repentance, that leads to a complete turnaround toward walking in Perfect Love always.

Water Baptism is just a symbol and public declaration of that (Baptism by Fire) as in and of itself and itself only (water baptism), has no power to save in and of or by itself only, etc... Not saying you shouldn't do it, cause it should be done at some point, but it is only a symbol or a shadow of something far higher and much greater, etc...

But whatever the baptism is, if it leads to true repentance, and then perfect Love, or Love perfected, then your doing really, really well then I would say, or I would think, in my opinion, etc...

God Bless!
 
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Neogaia777

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I would say Baptism by Fire, that leads to True Repentance, that leads to a complete turnaround toward walking in Perfect Love always.

Water Baptism is just a symbol and public declaration of that (Baptism by Fire) as in and of itself and itself only (water baptism), has no power to save in and of or by itself only, etc... Not saying you shouldn't do it, cause it should be done at some point, but it is only a symbol of something far higher and much greater, etc...

But whatever the baptism is, if it leads to true repentance, and then perfect Love, or Love perfected, then your doing really, really well then I would say, or I would think, in my opinion, etc...

God Bless!
Many of us will need to repent from our great lack of Love, etc, previously, etc...

Anyway,

God Bless!
 
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mlepfitjw

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Scripture is the only thing that can help the spirit grow.

There are many people out here who believe, have faith that God raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead.

The only way that it is passed on is through believer passing on the wisdom that is brought forth. Romans 10:17: So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

God loved us, he sent his son Jesus Christ our Lord. Who made a choice to die for us, so thus we return the same love back to him, and towards others.

Forgiving, mercy, be angry but dont* curse death upon man, love, we are given self-control by the spirit which is not our selves.

God works in and through many lives of believers he is the one who writes on the hearts and minds of others.

Nice post, used many scriptures which is very helpful, aiki.
 
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Religiot

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How are you successfully obeying Him...?

What are your methods or advice to others in how to do so successfully, etc...?

Or does any of that even matter, but just only obeying Him only, no matter what the methods, or how it is being done, is the only thing of number one paramount importance, etc...?

And whether it is out of fear or love doesn't matter, but only whatever which way is the most successful for each individual each individually, etc...?

What do you think, etc...?

What would be your advice to others, etc...?

God Bless!
When I first truly realized that there was a God in heaven I felt afraid, and awe struck; and when I learned that I had to answer to Him for all that I did, in and to, His creation, I felt terrified; but when I learned about what He did for me through His Son, I felt catharsis. Now, I only love Him.

He is no longer a terror to me, but the source of my peace, and any fear towards Him is that of a son towards his father.

My obedience to God, my Father, is motivated by love and fear: when temptation arises in me to presumptuously sin against my Father, the memories of previous chastisements arise in my mind and cause fear against the feelings of my temptations, and thus the temptation is quailed; moreover, and what usually occurs, is that before temptation can arise in me, I see it far off, and the love in me towards my Father and my Lord, causes me to hate anything that comes against them, and thus most temptation is stayed before it ever has a chance to take hold.

Obedience is at the heart, but it is not first, belief is: belief and obedience, these together render the faith through which God, by His grace, has chosen us to save.

Due to God choosing us through His foreknowledge, before the world was, our belief is by intuition, placed there by God, in those of us whom He foreknew: this is predestination, that is how we know His voice when we hear it--not because we first knew Him, but because He first knew us as His children, and this yearning for our Father transcends time.

Those who belong to Him have always been His, that is how we know His voice when we first hear it.

God created time, therefore, He is not bound by time: God exists outside of time.

Concerning your question of method, there isn't one, just trust and obey, for there's no other way to follow the Lord, but to trust and obey.

If we love God, we keep what He says. He who says he loves Him, and does not keep what He says, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Most are liars, for the gate to God is narrow, and there are few who even find it, and out of those few, there are only a few who enter in.

I hope that answered most of your questions, but if not, please feel free to ask for clarification.

Godspeed.
 
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